Canning apparatus with can top gripping jaws



Oct. 6, 1953 R. T. ZACCARD CANNING APPARATUS WITH CAN TOP GRIPPING JAWS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 16, 1951 Filed Feb. 16, 1951 Oct. 6, 1953 R. T. ZACCARD CANNING APPARATUS WITH CAN TOP GRIPPING JAWS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

RAYMONDT. ZACCARD Patented Oct. 6, 195 3 UNITED STATES PATENT DFFICE CANNI G AP AR US WITH CAN -.'1,0. 'IGBIPPING .jJAWs Raymond -T. Zaccard, Chicago, "Ill. Application February 16, 1951, SerialNp. 211,239 4 Claims. ($1. 1226-82) This invention relates to canning or packing apparatus and more particularly to an apparatus for home canning of foodstufis.

It is among the objects of the invention to pro.- vide improved apparatus particularly adapted for home canning which apparatus produces vacuum in the containers in which the food is canned or packed so that the contents of the containers are preserved by .the exclusion ,of ,air therefrom and it is not necessary in heavily proce ess the contents for preservation, the processing being limited to a blanching or pasteurizing ac tion, which supports containers in predetermined position therein and supports container tops or covers in predetermined position above the containers for application of the tops while maintaining the containers under vacuum, which includes a vacuum pump, a vacuum releasing valve and a drain valve for discharging liquid from the apparatus, .and which is simple and durable in construction, economical to manufacture, easy to operate, and neat and attractive in appearance.

Other objects and advantages will become ,apparent from a consideration of the following description and the appended claims in conjunction with .the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevational View of a canning apparatus illustrative of the invention, --a portion being broken away and shown in cross section to better illustrate the construction thereof;

Figure 2 is a transverse cross sectional view on the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an end velevational view of the apparatus illustrated in Figure 1, a portion being broken awayand shown in cross section to better illustrate vthe construction thereof;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of .a rack -.di sposed in the apparatus for holding containers in predetermined position in the apparatus;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a container top carrier, a fragmentary portion of the apparatus being shown in association with vthe tearner;

(Figure 6 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of the carrier taken on the line 6-6 of Figure .5

Figure 7 is a fragmentary cross sectional view on the line 7-1 .of Figure 6.;

Figure .8 is airagmentary .cross sectional view on the line \88 ,offFigure .6; and

Figure 9 is a cross sectional view on an enlarged scale of the check valve and manually controlled valve assembly as shown in "Fi ure 2 for connecting the pump cylinder to the interior of the receptacle.

With continued reference to the drawings, the apparatus comprises a receptacle 1 0 and a cover siz-l hinged to the receptacle.

The receptacle is preferably of elongated, rec; tangular shape having walls of suitable thickness to provide a hi h degree of heat insulation and having an interior of a depth to receive food containers, as indicated at l2, in upright position therein so that vthe top ends of the containers will be below the top of the receptacle.

The receptacle is of a size to receive a predee termined number of food containers of a stand: ard or predetermined size and it is contemplated that th dev c s w be provided difie t nt sizes with difierent capacities for food containers. For example, the devices may be provided sizes to accommodate fou six ei h and welve quar cajns ,or jars of known dimensions.

A h llow extens on ,3 is r vi ed al n ne side of the receptacle and the receptacle and the exten i n a upp rted on "le for tions l4 disposed ,one at each and extension assembly.

The cover II is of a size to completely cover the receptacle 10 but not the extension 13 and is hinged along one longitudinal edge to a corresponding longitudinal edge of the receptacle by a hinge 15. The cover is also of thick wall construction and has an internal cavity t6 therein which registers, when the cover is in closed position, with the internal cavity I] of the receptacle H].

A suitable gasket l8 extends around the edge of the receptacle 1 i? at the open end of the latter to provide an air-tight seal between the cover and the receptacle and a latch l9 mounted on the extension [3 adjacent the edge of the cover remote from the hinge 15 engages -a projection :20 on the cover to lock the cover in sealing engagement with the gasket It.

.Ahandle :Z s p d d on t co r o o ed ing and closing the :latter and handles ,22 and 23 are-provided oneon each .end of the-receptacle Jail for lifting and moving the entire device.

A manually operated vacuum pump is provided in the extension 13 and includes a pump cylinder 24 secured at its upper end to the .top wall of the extension and disposed within the hollow interiorof the extension, a piston "25 reciprocable in the "cylinder 24, a-piston rod 26 connected :at on e d t th piston 25 and X dine: idab v thr u h a packin ioin 27in th t p wa l of the extension l3 and a handle 28 on the end of the piston rod 26 remotefrom the piston=25 and disposed outside of the extension.

A check valve fi-Q is disposed adjacent the vacuum pump and a conduit 3d connects one side of this valve to the interior of the cylinder 24 at the g'hQttQlll of the cylinder. A conduit .;3;| extends vfromthe other sideof the valve through the wall of the receptacle to :the interior .of the orn of the ec tacl latter and a manually operated valve stem 32 is connected to the valve 29 and extends through the top wall of the extension I3 for operating the valve 29 to release vacuum produced in the interior of the receptacle by the vacuum pump.

As is shown in somewhat greater detail in Figure 9, the valve 29 may comprise a valve body or block 33 having a passage extending there through with a check valve ball 34 and a plug valve 35 mounted in the passage in series with each other. The conduit 3! is connected to the end of the passage adjacent the receptacle i and the conduit 30 is connected to the passage at the side of the check valve ball 34 remote from the conduit 3!, the plug valve being disposed between the check valve ball 34 and the conduit 31 and connected to the stem 32 for rotation by the stem. When the plug valve is in the operative position illustrated in Figure 2 the passage is continuous between the conduits 30 and 3! but when the plug valve is rotated to a position substantially 180 from the position illustrated in Figure 2, the conduit BI is connected by the plug valve to a passage 35 extending to the exterior of the valve block for the admission of air through this passage, the plug valve and the conduit 3! to the interior of the receptacle ill to relieve the vacuum in the receptacle.

A second check valve 37 is connected between the conduit 38 and the cylinder drawn into the cylinder from the interior of the receptacle it can be exhausted to the atmosphere upon downward movement of the piston 25.

A flat plate or plank 38 is disposed in the cavity iii of the cover and overlies the upper open end of the cavity il in the receptacle. This plate is provided in its surface adjacent the receptacle with two spaced apart and longitudinally extending slots 39 and d9 having undercut side edges so that each slot is a T cross sectional shape.

Jaw members, as indicated at H, 42 and .3 in Figure 6 are slidably mounted in the slots 39 and 30 at spaced apart locations therealong and have container top engaging portions depending from the under side of the plate, the plate 38 and the several jaw members constituting a carrier for the container tops. Adjacent jaw members are provided with substantially parallel opposed faces, as indicated in Figure 6 for the jaw members 4| and 32, to releasably clamp a container top M therebetween and one member of each cooperating pair of jaw members is fixed to the carrier plate at the proper position of adjustment along the corresponding slot 33 or 49 by suitable means, such as the screw 65 extending through a slot 25 in the jaw member and threaded into a tapped hole in the plate 38 at the bottom of the corresponding slot, the screw being threaded down to rigidly hold the associated jaw member in adjusted position.

The opposite jaw member, such as the jaw member 3-2, is slidably mounted in the slot and a screw t1, similar to the screw extends through a slot in the jaw member corresponding to the slot t8 to limit the movements of the movable jaw member toward and away from the associated fixed jaw member. A compression spring 38 is disposed in the slot between each movable jaw member and an adjacent fixed jaw member disposed at the side of the movable member remote from the fixed member with which the movable member is operatively associated to resiliently urge the movable member toward its associated fixed member to thereby exert a clamp- 24 so that air ing pressure on the top 64 held between the associated fixed and movable jaw members. The jaw members are provided in pairs equal to the number of containers to be placed in the receptacle ill and the pairs are so located that the tops carried thereby are respectively disposed immediately above the containers in the receptacle.

A screw shaft 59 extends through the cover ll substantially at the center of the cover and is connected by a universal joint 5| to the carrier plate 38 substantially at the center of the latter. A hand wheel 52 is secured on the end of the screw shaft outside of the cover II for rotating the screw shaft and the screw shaft is operative, when rotated, to move the carrier assembly toward and away from the open top ends of containers disposed in the receptacle.

Thus, the containers are filled and placed in the receptacle in proper position therein, container tops are secured to the carrier one between the jaw members of each pair of fixed and movable jaw members and are supported by the carrier assembly immediately above the open top ends of the containers, The cover It is then closed and locked in position with the carrier assembly retracted into the cavity it in the cover. The vacuum pump is then operated until the desired vacuum has been obtained in the receptacle and the screw shaft 5% is then rotated to move the carrier assembly toward the open top ends of the containers and force the container tops onto the containers with sufficient pressure to provide air tight seals between the containers and corresponding tops.

As is particularly illustrated in Figure 5, two pins or dowels 53 and 54 are secured to the carrier plate 38 and project upwardly therefrom at respectively opposite sides of the screw shaft 56 and are slidably received in openings provided in the top wall of the cover ll. These pins or dowels maintain the carrier plate in a predetermined rotational position in the cover and prevent turning movement of the plate by the screw shaft 58 with consequent displacement of the container tops or binding of the edges of the plate against the side walls of the carrier receiving cavity in the cover.

A rack 55, as particularly illustrated in Figure 4, is placed in the interior of the receptacle and rests on the bottom wall of the interior of the receptacle cavity to hold the containers in predetermined position in the receptacle.

This rack comprises a flat plate 56 of suitable sheet material having container receiving openings 51 therein and having short legs 58 projecting therefrom at its corners and at its midlength location to bear upon the bottom wall of the receptacle cavity and support the plate a short distance above the bottom wall of the cavity so that the containers will be firmly held in the holes provided in the plate. The holes in the rack 55 are in alignment with the pairs of jaws of the top carrier so that the tops will be held directly above the containers for insertion thereon.

A vacuum gauge 60 is mounted in the outer wall of the extension 13 and connected to the interior of the receptacle ill by a tube 61 so that the degree of vacuum in the container can be ascertained at all times.

A tube 62 extends through the bottom wall of the receptacle l!) to provide a drainage opening,

particularly for the drainage of liquid used in cleaning the receptacle, and a valve 63 is mounted on the tube 62 for closing the drainage opening when it is desired to provide a vacuum in the receptacle.

If desired, a suitable electric heater may be provided in the receptacle to heat the contents of containers placed in the receptacle to a blanching or pasteurizing temperature.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiment is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are, therefore, intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for processing canned food comprising a receptacle of a size to receive a plurality of food containers, means in said receptacle for holding contai ers in predetermined positions therein, a cover hinged to said receptacle, means providing an air tight seal between said cover and said receptacle, a carrier in said cover for supporting container tops in predetermined position relative to containers positioned in said receptacle, manually operated means connected between said cover and said carrier for moving said carrier to force container tops carried by said carrier onto containers disposed in said receptacle, a vacuum pump connected to said receptacle for exhausting air from the interior of the latter, a vacuum releasing valve connected between the interior and exterior of said receptacle, said cover having a cavity therein, and said carrier comprising a flat plate receivable in said cover cavity and having undercut grooves disposed in spaced apart relationship in the side of said plate adjacent said receptacle, jaw members mounted in said grooves and arranged in pairs of mutually opposed members, one jaw member of each pair being fixed to said plate and the other jaw member being slidable in the corresponding groove toward and away from the fixed jaw member, said one jaw member having a slot aligned longitudinally with the groove in which said one jaw member is mounted, a screw extending through said slot and threadably engaged with the carrier, said screw having a head proportioned to bind against said one jaw member to aflix the same to the carrier in selected positions of adjustment longitudinally of the groove, spring means resiliently urging each movable Jaw member toward the associated fixed jaw member, and plate carried means limiting movement of each movable jaw member toward and away from the associated fixed jaw member.

2. Apparatus for processing canned food comprising a receptacle of a size to receive a plurality of food containers, means in said receptacle for holding containers in predetermined positions therein, a cover on the receptacle, means providing an air tight seal between said cover and said receptacle, a carrier in the receptacle and carried by said cover for supporting con- .tainer tops in predetermined position relative to containers positioned in said receptacle, means connected between said cover and said carrier for moving the carrier to force container tops carried thereby onto containers disposed in said receptacle, a vacuum pump connected to the receptacle for exhausting air from the interior thereof, a vacuum releasing valve connected between the interior and exterior of the receptacle, and said carrier comprising a plate having undercut grooves disposed in spaced apart relationship in the side of said plate adjacent the receptacle, jaw members mounted in the grooves and arranged in pairs of mutually opposed members, one jaw member of each pair being fixed to said plate and the other jaw member being slidable in the corresponding groove toward and away from the fixed jaw member, said one jaw member having a slot aligned longitudinally with the groove in which said one jaw member is mounted, a screw extending through said slot and threadably engaged with the carrier, said screw having a head proportioned to bind against said one jaw member to affix the same to the carrier in selected positions of adjustment longitudinally of the groove, spring means resiliently urging each movable jaw member toward the associated fixed jaw member, and plate carried means limiting movement of each movable jaw member toward and away from the associated fixed jaw member.

3. A carrier for releasably engaging container tops of varied diameters in predetermined positions relative to a plurality of containers disposed therebelow, comprising a flat plate having at least one elongated groove formed in its underside, jaw members mounted in said groove and arranged in pairs of mutually opposed members for gripping of a container top between the members of each pair, one jaw member of each pair having a slot aligned longitudinally with said groove, a screw extending through said slot and threadably engaged with said plate, said screw having a head proportioned to bind against said one jaw member to affix the same to the plate in selected positions of adjustment longitudinally of the groove, spring means resiliently urging the other jaw member of each pair toward the associated fixed jaw member, and plate carried means limiting movement of each movable jaw member toward and away from the fixed jaw member associated therewith.

4. A carrier for releasably engaging container tops of varied diameters in predetermined positions relative to a plurality of containers disposed therebelow, comprising a fiat plate having at least one elongated groove formed in its underside, jaw members mounted in said groove and arranged in pairs of mutually opposed members for gripping of a container top between the members of each pair, one jaw member of each pair having a slot aligned longitudinally with said groove, a screw extending through said slot and threadably engaged with said plate, said screw having a head proportioned to bind against said one jaw member to afiix the same to the plate in selected positions of adjustment longitudinally of the groove, a spring resiliently urging the other jaw member of each pair toward said one jaw member, said spring being interposed between said other jaw member and the fixed jaw member of an adjacent pair of members, and plate carried means limiting movement of each of said other jaw members toward and away from their associated fixed jaw members.

RAYMOND T. ZACCARD.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 649,012 Tapscott May 8, 1900 1,141,238 Fenn June 1, 1915 

